THE ARAB HORSE 1 3 



Sir Walter Gilbey, Miss Ethelred Dillon, and others have pro- 

 moted the Arab horse in England and maintained studs. 



Notable Arab horses of recent years were the stallions Kismet, 

 Blitz, El Emir, Maidan, Kouch, Kars, Shahwan, Cunningham, 

 Garaveen, and Himyarite. Kismet and Blitz had remarkable 

 records in India as race horses. During 1883 and 1884 Kismet 

 never lost a race or heat and won about ^150,000 in money. 

 Kismet was brought to England, where he not only raced but 

 was used in the stud. In 1891 he was leased to Mr. Huntington 

 of Oyster Bay, New York, and shipped to this country, but died 

 two hours after landing. Maidan was foaled in 1869 at Nejd and 

 was taken to India, where he attained fame as a race horse. After 

 a remarkable career of many years as a cavalry and racing horse 

 in India, he was taken to France and from there to England, 

 where he lived to be twenty-three years old. Shahwan was a small 

 white stallion imported from Cairo by the Blunts and sold to 

 J. A. P. Ramsdell. He was very beautiful, but died before his 

 value in the stud could be determined. Notable Arab mares were 

 Hagar, Haidee, Naomi, Rodania, Kesia, and Nazli. Hagar was 

 a Keheilet Ajuz and was purchased at Aleppo when five years 

 of age and taken to England by the Blunts. She produced thir- 

 teen foals and died in 1898, at twenty-five years of age, one of 

 the greatest Arab mares ever imported to England. Haidee was 

 imported by the Uptons and left one foal, Naomi, after which she 

 died. Naomi became the property of Mr. Vidal, who, in 1888, sold 

 her to Randolph Huntington. She had twelve foals, four in 

 England and eight in America, and died at twenty-two years of 

 age, famous as a remarkable dam. Nazli was a daughter of Naomi, 

 sired by Maidan. She produced a number of high-class sons and 

 daughters. 



The value of the Arab in crossbreeding has been very notable. 

 Wherever used he has transmitted constitution, quality, intelli- 

 gence, and style in a marked degree. His value to horse stock 

 in the past has undoubtedly been important, especially in the 

 earlier stages of breed development. Not only this, but European 

 governments, even of to-day, recognize the value of an Arabian 

 cross to instill the qualities above referred to into depleted stock. 

 As an example of this crossing, in 1899 it is stated that the 



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